Joel Pereira: 6
Got down well to his right to bat away the initial shot for Barnsley’s opener but caught out when it came back across his goal.
He’s clearly being asked to put his studs on the ball and slowly walk it forward to try to bait the press out, but often draws the ire of the crowd for doing so.
Threw himself across the goal to his left to stop another dangerous first-half effort. Made several important interventions on crosses throughout, claiming a few late on that helped Reading see time off the clock.
Udoka Godwin-Malife: 5
Really shaky in the first half, seemingly struggling to make decisions in a timely fashion. When he did make them, they were often the wrong decisions. Improved in the second half on the ball but still a little shaky off it.
Surged forward with pace in the 76th minute and whipped in a really nice early cross that Brown couldn’t quite collect.
Paudie O’Connor: 7
Struggled with Barnsley’s press in build-up in the first half. Misplaced some passes, including one to Dokes that lead to a powerful shot from Adeyemo in the 26th minute.
Got up well to knock the ball across the goal for Brown to shoot in Reading’s best chance of a barren first half in attack.
Brilliant in the second half, making mistakes on the ball but defending with fine vigour.
Headed the ball out of an open net during a scramble in the box, stopping an immediate response from Barnsley to Lisbie’s equaliser.
Booked for stepping across the fast winger Cleary as he looked to get into the box. Headed the resulting free-kick clear of danger.
Made a pair of exceptional blocks late in the game to keep Barnsley crosses out of the box.
Jeriel Dorsett: 5
Unfortunately struggling since he came back into the team for the injured Ward. Couldn’t react quick enough when the ball hit him before Barnsley’s 1-0 strike.
Tidy enough on the ball to mostly protect possession in the second half, but can’t replicate Benn Ward’s defensive contribution rate.
Haydon Roberts: 5
Has a real issue with crosses delivered to his back post, and struggled again for Barnsley’s opener. Got caught under the flight of the ball and allowed it to be delivered into a dangerous area.
Found himself with a lot of the ball in this game, and was able to progress it a reasonable amount (especially in the second half) but that came with a lot of misplaced passes and dispossessions.
Did well to step out and clear a second ball from a late corner, earning a free-kick and 30 seconds off the clock in the process.
Lewis Wing: 6
One of the few players to still find some progressive passes through in the first half, and ended up leading the game for passes into the final third. Wing sees less of the ball than he used to in Reading games, but is still usually the team’s most efficient progressive passer.
Struggled when the game opened up defensively in the second half, but is still invaluable in this Reading side for set-play defence, and managed several clearances in this game.
Made a great tackle in the centre circle to stop a Barnsley attack and start a Reading one late in the game as things opened up.
Andy Rinomhota: 4
Ran gamely, but struggled to find pockets of space to assist in build-up, and thus was barely in the first half.
Saw a deflected effort loop up and into the roof of the net, earning Reading a corner. Overall struggled to get into the game though with low numbers defensively and on the ball.
Kyreece Lisbie: 7
Got himself a bit too wound-up, drawing a few silly fouls toward the end of the first half, but looked Reading’s only real dangerous option for ball progression. Avoided a booking and used that frustration to his benefit in the second half.
Peeled off the back of the full-back in the box shortly after half-time and smacked home a low controlled finish across the goal and through the legs of the Barnsley defender.
Drifted in between two defenders to find space for his second of the day, coolly slotting it between the goalkeeper’s legs.
Josh Stokes: 6
Punched down to the byline really well in the opening stages, but should have done a little better with his low drive into the box, missing the open Lane.
Went missing for large portions of the game, especially in the first half, but was able to make some crucial interventions in the second and shows real quality at times.
Threaded the needle beautifully to find a seam for Lisbie to run into, picking up the assist for the winger’s second.
Paddy Lane: 6
Had to leave the game early, pulling up just after the half-hour mark holding his calf. Had showed good energy before that.
Jacob Brown: 5
Did really well on the half-hour mark to win Reading a free-kick, showing a strong pair of shoulders to a Barnsley defender. Competed pretty well in the air throughout but struggled to get the ball at his feet.
Produced Reading’s first shot of the game with a headed effort that earned a corner. Came close to putting a good shot on net when he met Dokes’ early cross with a backheel, but got it stuck in his legs.
Subs
Randell Williams: 6
Called on early to replace the injured Paddy Lane. Gave Reading some new attacking ideas, including with his long throws.
Whipped in a nice ball for Lisbie’s equaliser. Maybe lucky to see it travel through a pair of players on its way to assisting Lisbie, but Williams deserved a reward for his effort after joining the fray late.
Burst onto a ball forward from Savage late in the game and slid it back inside, but couldn’t find a blue and white shirt.
Earned Reading a free-kick in a great spot outside of the box with five minutes to go in the game, keeping possession of the ball as he was wrestled over.
Charlie Savage: 6
Replaced Josh Stokes playing in the 10 spot. Fed a nice ball out to the wing for Williams to run onto in the first sequence after his introduction.
Jamie Reid: 5
Replaced Brown late on and provided a fresh face for the attack. Ran down into the touchline well but wasn’t able to find space for a shot.
Daniel Kyerewaa: N/A
Came on for the final moments of the game and helped Reading run out the clock by running Barnsley away from the goal.
Average: 5.64/10
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